Tough Times Require Tough People
Tough Times Require Tough People – It is no surprise to anyone watching the news these days that the world is a crazy place. From highway hijackings in broad daylight, potential food shortages, and protests that erupt out of nowhere, life is a little less simple than 20 years ago. So, what can we do to protect ourselves and our families? The first and most important in my mind is to be able to self-secure, and for me, part of that involves carrying a firearm. That said, it is not just that simple, and there are things you need to consider before you strap the iron to your hip.
Absolutely the first thing you need to check is your mindset.
Carrying a gun is not Gucci, cool, or hip. It is a serious responsibility that can’t be taken lightly. If your gun is taken away, people can die. You can go to jail if you are printing (where people can see your gun through your shirt). If you draw and shoot the bad guy, you could be sued. If you hit a bystander, you could go to jail. To protect yourself, you need to know the gravity of your decision to carry.
Second, you need to be prepared to shoot to kill. Some people talk about a great fight, but they freeze or draw and never get a shot off when it comes to it. While some of this is training-based, the bottom line is if you need to draw it, you need to be prepared to take someone’s life, which I can tell you from experience overseas, is not an easy burden, and many people handle it differently.
Third, you need to have the mindset to get the best gear to train with and do so often. Too often, people spend their whole money rolling on their guns but forget to get quality ammo, holster, and training. For the first category, I have another article that talks about how I would allocate ammo, but to summarize, get as much as you can and train with 75% of it. The second should be a no-brainer; get a good holster from the start here at JM4 Tactical, like the Original or roughneck holsters, which I have found to be the best ones I have tried in my 15 years of carrying a handgun. Finally, spend good money on training and even if you live in a Constitutional carry state, get the license and the training because it will only make you better.
Finally, don’t go looking for a fight. The best way to end a fight is to not get into one. Just because you have a gun on your hip doesn’t mean you can be an asshole and instigate a fight so you can draw your gun. That is irresponsible, and you will likely go to jail and ruin it for the rest of the concealed carriers like me.
Author: Ian Bolser
Take care and be vigilant
